Sign



June 22, 1937. F. E. LElTcH SIGN Filed March 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORN EY F. E. LEITCH Jaime 22, 19237.

SIGN

Filed March 4. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN Fred Earl Leitch, East Cleveland, Ohio Application March 4, 1936, Serial No. 67,143

5 Claims.

The invention relates to a sign and more especially to an illuminated advertising device.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein advertising mediums will be rendered visible through illumination and such illumination automatically eiected intermittently so as to lend attractiveness to the device and the advertising mediums are visible from opposite sides of said device, thus a Variety of advertising can be eiectually displayed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein an illuminating cylinder is rotatably supported and the illuminating bulbs carried thereby are intermittently lighted so that interrupted illumination of advertising matter will be had, the device being novel in its entirety and is susceptible of display at diiferent localities and is possessed of a multiplicity of exhibiting mediums.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, which is comparatively simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in its operation, neat in appearance, assuring attention of observers, automatic in the working thereof and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the device showing the interior thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectionalview on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary diagrammatical plan view of the wiring and circuit layout of the device.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference lcharacters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a box-like body I 0 having solid end walls II, solid bottom I2 and solid top I3, respectively, while in the front and back of this body are tted vertically disposed elongated outer and intermediate glass panels or window panes I4 and I5, respectively. The outer panels or panes I4 have suitably appearing thereon indicia I6, in this instance, one panel carries the word Electric and the other the name F. E. Leitch while the intermediate panel is devoid of indicia.

Fitted with one end II of the body I0 is a hanger I'I for mounting upon a wall or other support to suspend the device at the location required.

Located interiorly of the body IU and xedly supported upon its bottom I2 is an electric motor I8, its driving shaft I9 being formed with a worm screw 29 meshing with a worm gear 2I xed to a stud shaft 22 journaled in a suitable bearing 23 stationarily supported on the bottom I2 of said body I0, the worm screw 20, its companion gear 2|, the stud shaft 22 for the latter and the bearing 23 are conned within a housing 24 suitably xed in place upon the bottom l2 interiorly of the body. Within the body I0 above the housing 24 is a rotatable cylinder 25 having the transparent cylinder wall 26 which carries spaced vertical indicia 21 identifying certain lines of merchandise, as for example, washers, sweepers, ironers,'etc., and this indicia 27 when confronting the intermediate panels or panes I5 will be rendered visible from opposite sides of the body f) I Il on illumination interiorly of said cylinder 25 in a manner presently described. The cylinder 25 has at its lower end a central journal 28 which through a separable coupling 29 is joined with a driven stud shaft 3S journaled in the top of the housing 24 in vertical alignment with the stud shaft 22. The stud shaft 30 has fixed thereto a ratchet gear SI, it being a six-toothed gear and is within the housing 24 while pivoted to the worm gear 2I at the under side thereof is a bell crank shaped cam actuated ratchet dog 32 having a latching pin 33 playing in a segmental shaped slot 34 in said gear 2| for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 3| and this dog 32 is operated upon by a stationary cam 35 within the 4 housing 24 for intermittent latching engagement with said gear SI. The dog 32 has connected therewith a coiled tensioning spring 36 which is also xed to the gear 2I and automatically releases the said dog gear 3| when the dog rides from or olf of the cam 35 to free the gears 2I and 3| from each other. In this manner the cylinder 25 has intermittent movements in the rotation thereof.

The cylinder 25 has formed interiorly thereof radially' disposed partitions 37 dividing it into a series of segmental shaped light compartments 38 in which are arranged or tted electric light bulbs 39, their sockets 40 being equipped with wiping contacts 4I engageable with spring pressed 32 from engagement with the .u

from a cam Wheel 48 xed to the stud shaft Bil and this circuit breaker closes and opens the circuit 44 synchronously with the engagement and disengagement of the contacts 4I and the Wipers or brushes 42 so that in this manner the bulbs 39 when those are diametrically opposite of a pair are in confronting relation to the panels or panes I5, which is the point of engagement of the contacts 4l with the brushesr or Wipers 42, Will become illuminated and such illumination will exist for a predetermined period for exhibiting indiciaA present on the cylinder 25 through the panels or panes I5. The periods of rotation of the cylinder 25 are regulated by the dog 32 coacting with the cam 35 and the ratchet Wheel 3i.

'Ihe illumination of a pair of bulbs 39 is controlled by the contact 4l and brushes or Wipers 42 While coacting with these is the circuit breaker 4E to open the circuit the instant that the cylinder 25 turns for immediate cutting off of illumination to the bulbs 39.

The device under the illumination display is readable from opposite sides, that is to say, at the front and rear of the body lll and the indicia 2l on the cylinder When illuminated will be clearly discerniblethrough the panels I5 at the front and rear of the body Hl of the device.

The cylinder 25 at its top has a spindle journaled in a suitable bracket or bearing 49 therefor ascarried interiorly of the body l0.

The circuit breaker 46 controls to the lights while the circuit 45 to the motor is undisturbed by this circuit breaker.

As has been hereinbefore indicated the dog 32 is latched with the gear 3i when acted upon by the cam 35 While the spring 35 automatically releases the dog 32 from the gear 3! after the dog has passed from the cam 35 and the rotation of the cylinder 25 is regulated through this action.

What` is claimed is:

l. A sign comprising a casing having a plurality of Windows, a rotatable cylinder in said casing, said cylinder having a plurality of compartments to successively confront said Windows, each com.- partment bearing an exhibit for display through the Windows, separate electric illuminatorsin each of said compartments of the cylinder, a source'oi electric supply for said electric illuminators, a connecting means adjacent to each Window for conducting current from the source of supply to the electric illuminators in the comp-artmentV confronting the Windows when the exhibits thereon are in display positions, and means for rotating the cylinder by intermittent steps to successively position the compartments ink Jiront the circuit 44 l 8 of the Windows with their exhibits in the displayY positions'. l

2. A sign comprising a casing having a Window, a rotatable cylinder in said casing, said cylinder having a plurality of compartments to successively confront said Window, each compartment bearing an exhibit for display through the Window,

separate electric illuminators in each of said compartments of the cylinder, a source of electric supply for said electric illuminators, a connecting means adjacent to the Window for conducting current from the source of supply to the electric illuminator in the compartment confronting the window, when the exhibit thereon is in display position, and means for rotating the cylinder by intermittent steps to successively position the compartments in front of the Window with their exhibits in the dis-play position.

3. A sign comprising a casing having a window, a rotatable cylinder in said casing, said cylinder having a plurality of compartments to successively confront said window, each compartment bearing an exhibit for display through the Window, separate electric illuminators in eachV of said compartments of the cylinder, a source of electric supply for said electric illuminators, a connecting means adjacent to the Window for conducting current from the source of supply to the electric illuminator in the compartment confronting the window comprising contact means connected with each electricY illuminator and exposed from an end of each compartment and stationary contact means connected with the source of electric supply carried by the casing and adapted to be engaged by the contact means connected with the lamp in the compartment confronting the Window when the exhibit thereon is in display position, and means for rotating the cylinder by intermittent steps to successively position the compartments in front of the Window with their exhibits in the display position. Y

4. A sign comprising a casing having a Window, a rotatable cylinder in said casing, said cylinder having a plurality of compartments to successively confront said Window, each compartment bearing an exhibit for display through the Window, separate electric illuminators in each of said compartments of the cylinder, a source of electric supply for said electric illuminators, a connecting means adjacent to the window for conducting current from the source oi supply tothe electric illuminator in the compartment confronting the window comprising contact means connected with each electric illuminator and exposed from an end of each compartment and stationary contact means connected with the sourcel ofV electric supply carried by the casing and adaptedgto beV engaged by the contact means connected with the lamp in the compartment confronting the window when the exhibit thereon is in display position, means for rotating the cylinder by intermittent steps to successively position the compartments in front of the Window with their exhibits in the display position, a cam carried by the cylinder having detents'therein corresponding to the compartments, a stationary switch in the source of electric supplyfor the electric illuminators, and said switch having a trip adapted to engage the detents for closing the switch, Whereby the electric supply to the contact means carried by the casing is interrupted during the movements of the cylinder.

5. A sign in accordance with claim 9 in which the casing is provided with non-changing exhibitors on either side of the Window through which the successive exhibits on the cylinder are displayed.

FRED EARL'LErrcH. 

